"Supernatural Machinery or elements in Shakespeare plays pdf"
In William Shakespeare's plays, supernatural elements such as ghosts, witches, and apparitions are often used to add a mystical and eerie dimension to the story. Examples of plays that feature supernatural machinery include "Macbeth", where witches foretell the title character's future, and "Hamlet", where the ghost of the king haunts Elsinore Castle. The use of such elements adds to the overall atmosphere of the play and contributes to the development of the plot and character motivations.
In "Macbeth", the supernatural elements play a significant role in the development of the plot and the character of Macbeth. The play opens with three witches who make prophecies that drive Macbeth's ambition and ultimately lead to his downfall. Throughout the play, the witches appear several times, offering cryptic advice and making additional prophecies that further fuel Macbeth's ambition and paranoia. The appearance of the ghost of Banquo, Macbeth's former friend, also adds to the supernatural atmosphere and contributes to Macbeth's growing sense of guilt and fear. These supernatural elements create a sense of foreboding and contribute to the play's themes of fate, ambition, and guilt.
In addition to the witches and Banquo's ghost, "Macbeth" also features other supernatural elements that serve to heighten the tension and reinforce the play's themes. For example, the appearance of an apparition of a blood-stained child to Macbeth is meant to show his guilt and foreshadow his impending doom. Lady Macbeth is also plagued by supernatural events, such as her sleepwalking and the appearance of bloodstains that she cannot wash away, which suggest her guilt and guilt-ridden conscience. These supernatural elements add to the play's overall mood of dread and help to build a sense of the inevitable outcome for Macbeth and those around him.
Furthermore, the supernatural elements serve to reinforce the idea that Macbeth's actions are predetermined by fate, and that his ambition and thirst for power are ultimately his downfalls. The witches' prophecies, combined with the other supernatural events in the play, suggest that Macbeth's fate is sealed from the beginning and that his choices are merely a manifestation of the forces that control his destiny. This reinforces the idea that one's actions are not necessarily determined by free will, but by larger, more sinister forces at play.
In "Hamlet", the supernatural element of the ghost plays a key role in the development of the plot and the character of Hamlet. The ghost of Hamlet's father, the former king of Denmark, appears in the play and reveals to Hamlet that he was murdered by his own brother, Claudius. This sets the stage for Hamlet's mission of revenge and his ultimate confrontation with Claudius. The appearance of the ghost also raises questions about the afterlife and the nature of death, adding to the play's themes of mortality and the consequences of one's actions.
Furthermore, the ghost contributes to the atmosphere of uncertainty and instability that pervades the play. The other characters are unsure about the nature of the ghost and whether it is a good or evil spirit. This contributes to the idea that there are forces at work in the world beyond human understanding, and that the events of the play are shaped by these supernatural elements.
Overall, the ghost in "Hamlet" serves to drive the plot, add to the atmosphere of the play, and reinforce its themes of mortality, revenge, and the consequences of one's actions.
In "Othello", the supernatural elements are less prominent compared to other Shakespeare plays. However, there are instances where the supernatural is used to heighten the play's themes of jealousy, deceit, and manipulation. For example, Othello's perception of reality is distorted by Iago's lies and deceit, leading Othello to believe that his wife, Desdemona, has been unfaithful. This causes Othello to experience a sense of anxiety and paranoia, which is often described in supernatural terms, such as the "green-eyed monster" of jealousy.
Additionally, the use of handkerchiefs as a symbol of love and loyalty also has a supernatural aspect in the play. Othello believes that the handkerchief was given to him by his father and has magic powers, and its loss and subsequent reappearance contribute to the unraveling of his mind and eventual downfall.
Overall, while the supernatural elements in "Othello" are not as prominent as in other Shakespeare plays, they are still used to reinforce the play's themes and add to its atmosphere of deceit, jealousy, and the unraveling of one's mind.
In "The Tempest", the supernatural elements play a central role in the plot and themes of the play. The play revolves around the character of Prospero, a former Duke of Milan who was cast away on an island and has the ability to control spirits and monsters with his magic. The island is also home to spirits and monsters, including the sprite Ariel and the monster Caliban, who are both under the control of Prospero.
Throughout the play, Prospero uses his magic to manipulate the other characters and control the events on the island. For example, he creates a tempest to bring his enemies to the island, and later uses his magic to resolve the conflicts and bring about a resolution. The supernatural elements in "The Tempest" serve to reinforce the themes of power, control, and manipulation.
In addition, the play explores the idea of redemption and forgiveness, as Prospero ultimately decides to renounce his magic and forgive those who wronged him. This decision reinforces the idea that power and control should not be used for personal gain, but rather for the greater good.
Overall, the supernatural elements in "The Tempest" play a crucial role in the plot and themes of the play, serving to reinforce the ideas of power, control, redemption, and forgiveness.
In "King Lear", the supernatural elements play a significant role in the play's themes of madness, reason, and the natural order of the universe. The play opens with a storm, which serves as a metaphor for the chaos and disorder that is to come. Throughout the play, the characters are plagued by supernatural events, such as the appearance of the fool and the madwoman, who serve to highlight the madness that has taken hold of the kingdom and the characters within it.
The play also features the character of the Fool, who serves as a voice of reason and sanity in a world that has gone mad. The Fool's role reinforces the idea that madness and reason are two sides of the same coin, and that the line between them is often blurred.
Additionally, the play explores the idea of the natural order of the universe being overturned, as King Lear descends into madness and the once-powerful and respected king becomes a powerless and unstable figure. This reinforces the idea that the natural order of things can be disrupted by the actions of men, and that the consequences of such actions can be devastating.
Overall, the supernatural elements in "King Lear" serve to reinforce the play's themes of madness, reason, and the natural order of the universe, and add to the overall atmosphere of chaos and disorder.
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Literature